Endless chain of counting relays



June 17, 1952 R. P. BOYER, JR., ETAL 2,600,729

ENnLEss CHAIN oF COUNTING RELAYS 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Dec. 22, 1949 R. P. BOYER, JR., ETAL 2,600,729

' ENDLEss CHAIN oF COUNTING RELAYs .Il me 17, 1952 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 22, 1949 mmm.; .rDnFDO Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENDLESS CHAIN OF COUNTING RELAYS Richard P. Boyer, Jr., La Grange, and John I.

Bellamy, Wheaton, Ill., assignors, hy mesne assignments, to Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company, a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1949, Serial No. 134,448

8 Claims. 1

GENERAL DESCRIPTION This invention is a direct improvement on the counting chain employed as an allotter in the pending application of Bellamy for Selector Switching'Systems, Serial No. 649,595 filed February 23, 1946, now Patent No. 2,559,702, issued July 10, 1951.

The endless counting chain is so arranged that the counting relays operate in a progressive wavelike motion wherein the last preceding counting relay is held operated along with a newly operated one, and the second preceding counting relay is released. The counting relays upon operation, assume respective alloting positions successively in a cycle.

A feature of the invention resides in an arrangement whereby the re-cycling or cutoff, re-y lay is controlled by 'a circuit independent of the windings of Vthe counting relays.

Y Another featureresides in the arrangement whereby the counting relay windings are permitted to be single-wound coils instead of doublewound coils previously required for counting circuits of' this character. This feature includes evenf and odd locking circuits for holding the counting relays as required.

" Other objects and features of the invention will appear as the description progresses.

The drawings Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figs. l and 2v are schematic circuit diagrams of a preferred embodiment and a desirable modification, respectively. l

In'..each embodiment, the' counting relays CI tofCIOare each single-wound relays, employing even and. odd locking circuits rather than a second winding.

In each embodiment the cutoff relay (MI3 or RIB) is controlled through its own separate circuit, rather than beingin the battery-supply circuit of certain of the counting relays as heretofore, 'thereby lowering the power requirements of the concerned counting-relay circuits and rendering all of them uniform. -f

In each embodiment, a differential windingfis employed to restore the cutol relay. In the first embodiment, a self-locking circuit is employed to hold the cutoff relay operated after its operating circuit is opened, while the second embodiment employs a residual-stick cutoff relay to render the noted self-locking circuit unnecessary.

In the rst embodiment (Fig. l), a new driverrelay circuit (relays MII and MIZ) is disclosed which avoids the necessity for residual-stick relays without increasing the required number Vof. windings or of contacts.

DETAILED DEsCRiPTIoN The invention having been described generally, a detailed description will now be given.

Hereinafter, for convenience, the disclosed counting chains will be described as allotters (as in the cited pending application), but it will be understood that the counting chains are suitable for any one of a number of other well-known uses.

Preferred embodiment (Fig. 1)

The endless counting chain of Fig. 1, comprising the thirteen relays CI to CID and MII to MI3, is a specialized counting chain suitable, for example, to designate first choice where groups of circuits may be simultaneously available for seizure.

The counting chain relays CI to CII] are controlled by driver relays MII and MIZ. Relay MIZ controls the operate paths of the counting chain relays over odd and even operate or pickup wires, PU-Odd and PU-Even, while relay MII controls their release over odd and even hold wires, Hold-Odd and Hold-Even. Cutoff relay MI3 is employed to disconnect relay CI after it operates, and to hold it disconnected until a new cycle of operations is about to begin, thereby avoiding the necessity of a back-contact chain on the counting relays as explained in the previously noted prior application.

The counting chain is illustrated in the first of its ten positions, position 1. In that position, the rst counting relay CI stands operated through closed contacts on relays MIZ and MI3, and all other relays are restored.

Driver circuit The driver circuit comprises relays MII .and MIZ. Driver relays MII and MIZ consist of a pair of tandem-wound relays, with the operate winding O` of either in series with the holding winding H, of the other. The number of turns of the windingsv O and H are so related that while either winding H will hold the relay operated it will not operate the relay when the winding O of the other relay is in series therewith.

Driver relays MII and MIZ are controlled primarily by start relay S which is operated at the initiation of each operation requiring the allotting action and is restored when such opera-- tion is completed. This arrangement provides for the advance of the endless counting chain (from one position to the next) incidental to the completion of the noted operation between successive allotting uses of the chain.

With start relay S restored, and with both driver relays MII and MIZ in their illustrated restored condition, operate winding O of relay MI I and hold winding H of relay MIZ stand open at contact I of relay S, and the alternative Windings of relays MII and MIZ stand open at contact I of relay MII. Driver relays MIZ and MII are now in position l, both restored.

The initiation of allotting action causes start relay S to operate, which at its make contact I energizes operate winding O` of relay MII in series with hold winding H of relay MIZ. Relay MII now operates, but relay MIZ does not n ow operate because of the small number of turns o f its hold winding. Driver relays MI I and MIZ are now in position 1.5, relay MI I being operated alone.

On completion of the noted allotting action, start relay S is released. Break contact I of relay S extends ground through contact I of relay MII to winding O of relay MIZ which operates in series with winding H of relay MI I. The operate ground of relay MII is removed at make contact I of relay S but relay MI I remains operated by the noted energization o f its hold winding H in series with winding O of relay MIZ. Driver relays MII and MIZ are now in position 2, both relays operated.

When start relay S operates the next time, its contact I extends ground to one side of the operate coil of relay MII and through contact Z of relay MIZ to the other side of its operate winding, which is also the hold winding of relay MIZ. Contact I of relay S removes the ground from the operate winding of relay MI'Z which deenergrizes the hold winding of relay MI I. Ground on both sides of the operate winding of relay MII and its hold winding deenergized, relay MI I releases. The. ground shunting the operate winding of relay MII, maintains the hold winding of relay MIZ energized and prevents the release of relay MIZ. Driyer relays MI I' and MIZ are now in position 2,5, relay MIZ being operated alone.

When'start relay Sl restores, incidental to they completion of the allotting action. contact I of relay` S removes ground from the hold winding of relay. MIZ. The operatev winding of relay MIZ is open at contact I. of relay MI I and relay MIZ releases. Relays MII and MIZ are now. again in position 1 (both relays restored) at the beginning point of a new cycle of driver action.

` In summary, consideringdriver relays MII and MIZ in position 1 (both restored), (1)*relay MII first operates to bring them into position 1.5; (2) relay MIZ later operates to bring them into position 2 (both operated) ;Y (3) relay MII releases to bring them into position 2.5 (relay MIZ operated alone); and (4.) relay MIZ releases to bring them back into. position 1 (both restored).

Thev function of cutoff relayk MI3 is to disconnect counting relay CI from the operating circuit after it has operated at the start of a counting. cycle of operationsof countingrelays. CI to CI 0, and to maintain it disconnected until a new cycle of counting operations is about to start.

Starting with the relays in the respective positions shown in Fig. 1, when driver relays MI Iv and MIZ next assume position 1.5, wherein relay MII is operated alone, cutoff relay MI3 operates from ground at make contact 3 of relay MII. Cutoff relay MI3 locks through its own contact Z, and at contact I disconnects the operate winding of counting relay CI'. Prior to this, however, relay CI has been locked operated as later described. Cutol relay MI 3 remains locked operated until its oppOSDg lower winding is energized. Following the operation (hereinafter described) both driver relays MII and MIZ operated, driver relay MI I restores and connects the lower winding of the locked cutoff relay MI3 in parallel with the energized upper winding through contact I of counting relay CIU. The consequent*l energization of the lower winding of relay MI 3 overpowers the upper winding, causing the relay to release as the net ilux passes through zero. Contact Z of the relay opens both windings, leaving the relay restored. Contact I4 of cutoff relay MI3 reconnects the Winding of `counting relay CI in preparation for another cycle of counting chain operations.

Counting relay action The counting or allotting relays of Fig. l comprise relays CI to CIO. All allotting relays have coils with one winding and operate directly from battery and ground.

With the endless counting chain of Fig. 1 in its illustrated first position, all relays thereof are restored except the rst relay CI. Relay CI is operated from ground through closed contact I of relay MIZ, conductor PU-Odd, closed contact I of relay MI3 and through the winding of relay C I' to battery.

With driver relay MI Z unoperated, the allotting ground extends through its back contact 3 to oddallotting wire AL-Odd connected to contacts 3 of al1 odd-numbered allotter relays. With the allotter in its illustrated rst position, output wire I is thus grounded through contactl 3 of relay CI.

When the driver relays MII and MIZ advance to position 1.5 by operation of relay MII alone, ground from contact 3 is placed on the upper winding of cutoff relay MI3 causing it to operate. Relay MII locks to ground through its contact Z. Contact Z of relay MII places a` holding ground on the coil of relay CI before contact I of relay MI3 opens the operate path of relay CI. When the driver relays advance to position 2 by the operation of relay MIZ, ground is placed on the coil of relay Z operating it. Contact 3 of relay MIZ transfers the allotting ground from conductor A L-Odd to conductor AL-Even. Output wire I is ineffective and output wire 2 is now groundedv from contact 3 of relay CZ and conductor AL-Even. The allotter is now in position 2 (relaysCI and CZ operated).

The next ensuing allotting operation releases relay MII which at itsv contact Z releases relay CI and locks relay CZ operated. The driver relays are now in` position.2.5.

When relay. MIZ releases, its contact I extends ground through contact I of relay CZ to the coil of relay C3 and at its contacts 3, transfers ground to the odd allotting conductor AL-Odd. Ground is, removed from output wire Z and placed on output wire 3. The allotter is now .in position 3 (relay c2 and cs operated).

VFrom this point, the allotter action proceeds in' the progressive Wave-like motion previously described. Accordingly, except for a momentary half-step (transition) interval, only two allotting relays (CI to CIU) are in operated condition at any one time, but only the last-operated one closes effective allotting circuits because of the action of driver relay MI 2 in shifting the allotting ground back and forth between the odd and even allotting branches.

When the counting chain reaches its ninth position, the ninth allotting relay C9 stands operated from ground Iat contact I of relay MIZ, contact I of the operated eighth allotting relay CU, and the winding of relay C9 to battery. When driver relays MII and MIZ are operated, the tenth (and iinal) allotting relay CIU is operated from ground at contact I of relay MIZ, contact I of relay C9 and the winding of relay CIU to battery. The allotting ground is transferred from output wire 9 to output wire IU, and the counting chain is now in position IU (relays C9 and CIU operated).

, When relay MII restores, relay C9 releases at contact 2 of relay MII. Ground from contact Z of relay MI3 is placed through break contact 3 of relay MII and contact I of relay CIU to battery through the lower winding of relay MI3. With the upper winding of relay MI3 energized by ground at its contact Z and the lower winding energized through contact I of relay CIU, the flow of flux from each winding is in opposition, causing the relay to release.

,Relay MIZ releases and at its contact I places ground on the coil of relay CI through contact I of relay MI3. Contact 3 transfers the allotting' ground from output wire IU to output wire I. At this time the driver relays are in position l (relays MII and MIZ operated) and the counting chain is in its effective Ialloting position 1 Second embodiment (Fig. 2)

The second embodiment of the invention, shown in Fig. 2, provides an arrangement wherein the driver relays RII and RIZ, and cutoi relay Rl3. while performing the same respective functions as relays MII to MI3, Fig. l, are residualstick relays rather than relays requiring holding current. The counting relays CI to CIU and their circuits are the same in Fig. 2 as in Fig. 1. Anyresidual-stick relay RII to RIS, upon being open-circuited after operation by current ow through its operate winding, retains sufiicient residual magnetism to hold the relay operated `against its spring load until the residual magnetism is neutralized. Each such relay may have a tandem-wound coil with the windings differentially connected, as shown. The uppermost winding is assumed to be adjacent to the armature (not shown). 1 l

Start relay SI of Fig. 2 is similar to start relayS of Fig. l, except that its contacts are not required to be of the make-before break type shown for relay S. l l

With relays SI. RII and RIZ restored, as shown, both windingsof relay RII stand open. but bothA windings of relay RIZ stand closed. With its'two windings energized in opposition, as indicated, relay RIZ remains unoperated.

6. Control relays RII and RIZ are'now in position l, both restored.

When relay S next operates, it disconnects ground from both windings of relay RIZ (leaving it unoperated) and transfers ground to the circuit of relay RII. With relay RIZ unoperated, only the upper winding of relay RII energized, the lower winding thereof being disconnected. Relay RI I is now operated by its upper winding, energizedalone. Upon operating, it disconnects the lower winding of relay RIZ from in parallel with the upper winding thereof preparatory; to the subsequent operation of relay RIZ. Relays RII and RIZ are now in position 1.5, relay RII being operated alone. i

When relay SI next restores, vit transfers ground back from the circuit of relay RII Vto the circuit of relay RIZ.

is operated by its upper winding, energized alone. The control relays RII and RIZ are now in position Z, both relays operated. Y

When startrelay SI next reoperates to transfer ground from the circuit of relay RIZ to the circuit of relay RII, relay RIZ remainsloperated by residual magnetism, but relay RII restores since its lower winding overpowers the upper winding to reverse the flow of flux. The release occurs when the flux approaches zero value during reversal. Having released, the relay does not reoperate so long as the two differentially connected windings are both energized. Relays RII and RIZ are now inposition 2.5, relay RIZ being operated alone. y

When relay S next restores, the lower winding of relay RIZ is energized in parallelvwith the upper winding thereof causing relay RIZ to 'restore and remain restored for reasons given in connection with relay RI I. Relays RI I and RIZ are now again in position 1 (being both re,-r

stored), at the beginning point of a new cycle. Itwill be observed that driver relays RI I and RIZ are related to control wires PU-Odd.' PU- Even; Hold-Odd, Hold-Even; and'AL-Odd, AL- Even in the same way as lare 'the previously described driver relays MII and MIZ of Fig; 1.

Therefore, subject to suitable control of cutoff relay RI3, the relays CI to CIU in Fig. 2 respond precisely as described for Fig. 1; more specifically, relay CI operates in position l of the driver relays, locks over wire` Hold-Odd in position 1.5, releasing in position 2.5 of the driver relays, following the operation of relay CZ in position 2 of the driver relays. In position 2.5, coincidental with the unlocking and release of the first counting relay CI, cutoff relay RI3r is operated' through contacts 3 and 4 of relays RII andRIZ to disconnect relay CI to withhold it from further operation until the beginning of a new cycle of operations of relays CI to CIU. l

When the driver relays RII and RIZ pass from position 2.5 back to position l, the operate circuit of relay RI3 is opened (at contacts 4 of relay RIZ), but relay RI3' remains operated by residual magnetism until later restored by demagnetization.

When the counting relays CI to CIU arrive in their tenth position as described for the first embodiment (operation of relay CIU), the lower winding of relay RI 3 is connected in parallel with the upper winding thereof at contact I of relay CIU. This occurs when the driver relays RII and RIZ arrive in position 2 (both operated).

When the driver relays assume position 2.5, a circuit is again closed for relay RI3. With both Relay RII remains operated by residual magnetism, and relayRIZ windings connected in parallel, the relay releases and remains restored as described for relays RI l and RIZ.

When driver relays assume position l, a circuit is closed for the first counting relayv Cl. The counting chain is prepared to start another cycle of operations.

We claim:

1. In combination, a first and a second electromagnetic relay each having one Winding for operating it and another winding for` holding it operated, a first circuit branch including a first control wire, the operating winding of the first relay, and the Vholding winding of the second relay in series, a second circuit branch including a second control wire, the operatingwinding of the second relay, and the holding winding of the first relay in series, the holding winding of the second relay being incapable of operating such relay when energized in series with the operating winding of the first relay, means for energizing said control wires alternately to bring aboutA the operation of said relays in succession and the restoration thereof in the same succession cyclically, and means for securing said cyclic operation including normally open contacts on the first relay serially related in the second said circuit branch and normally open contacts on the second relay connected in shunt of the said operating winding in the first circuit branch.

2. In combination, a rst and a second electromagnetic relay, each having one Winding for operating it and another winding for holding it operated, a first circuit branch including a first control wire, the operating winding ofthe first relay, and the holding winding of the second relay, a second circuit branch including a second control wire, the operating winding of the second relay, andthe holding winding of the first relay, the holding winding of the second relay being of insuilicient power to operate such relay, means for energizing said control wires alternately toV bring about the operation of said relays in succession and the restoration thereof in the same succession cyclically, and means for securing said cyclic operation including contacts on the first relay for placing the operating winding of the second relay and the holding winding of the first relay effectively in circuit, and contacts on the second relay for eiiectively removingV the operating winding of the first relay from circuit.

3. In combination, a first and a second electro'- magnetic relay, each having one winding for operating it and another winding for holding it operated, a iirst circuit branch including a first control wire, the operating winding of the first relay, and the holding winding of the second relay, a second circuit branch including ra second control Wire, the operating Winding of the second relay, and the holding winding ofthe first relay, the holding winding of either relay being of insufficient power to operate such relay, means for energizing said control wires alternately to bring about the operation of said relays in' succession and the restoration thereof in the same succession cyclically, and means for securing said cyclic operation including contacts on the first relay for placing the operating winding of the second relay effectively in circuit, and contacts on the second relay for effectively removing the operating winding of the first relayfrorn circuit.

4. In a cyclic relay control circuit, first andv second relays each requiringa flow of rcurrent to operate it and requiring a continued flow of current to hold it operated, first and second control wires and means for energizing them one at a time in succession, means responsive to a said energization of the iirst control wire and subject to both relays being restored for operating the first relay alone, means responsive to a said energization of the second control wire and subject to the first relay being operated alone for operating the second relay and for .holding the first relay operated, means responsive to a subsequent said energization of the first wire for restoring the first relay and for holding the second relay operated, andmeans responsive to a later said energization of the second wire for restoring the second relay and for maintaining both restored until a said energization of the first wire' again occurs to start a new cycle.

5. In combination, a series of relays including a normally connected first relay and normally disconnected succeeding relays, means for operating said series of relays successively in cycles,

said means includingcontacts operable with each said relay preceding the last for connecting thev next succeeding relay, a cutoff relay, said cutoff relay when operated disconnecting the said first relay and when restored reconnecting the said first relay, means following the operation of the said vfirst relay for operating the said cutoff relay, and means responsive to the operation of the last relay of said series for restoring said cutoff relay. 6. In combination, a first and a second control device operable in succession and thereafter restorable in the same succession, a seriesof counting relays, means controlled by the second control device jointly with said relaysV for supplying operating current to them successively, a separate relay being thereby operated responsive to each operation and to each restoration of the second control device, means controlled by the first control device jointly with operated ones of said relays for supplying holding current to them in the same succession in which they are operated, any relay being supplied with holding current before the operating current is transferred to the next succeeding relay and releasing 'upon being deprived of holding current when the holdi ing current is transferred to the next succeeding relay.

7. In combination, a series of counting relays comprising alternate odd relays and alternate succeeding even relays, odd and even loperate wires associated. respectively with the odd andv even-relays', respectively corresponding odd and even hold wires, associated respectively with the odd and even relays, first and second control devices operable in succession and thereafter restorable in the same succession, one said control device energizing one operate wire'when `restored and energizing the other operate wire when operated, the other control device when restored energizing the hold wire corresponding to the operate wire energized by the said one control device when operated, said other 'control device when operated energizing the other hold wire, -means connecting the-first said odd relay to the oddoperate wire when a counting'operation is about to begin and for disconnecting' it from such wire after ithas been operated thereover'incidental to such counting operation, first contacts on each counting relay preceding the last one of the series, for connecting the next succeeding counting relay toits corresponding operate wire, and second contacts on each said counting relay vfor connectingsuch relay to its corresponding hold W1re.

8. In combination, a series of counting relays, REFERENCES CITED a rst and a second control device, odd and even The following references are of record in the pelrate wires and od'd 1ani even hold wires ccnme of this patent:

ro ed by said con ro evices and associa ed with respective odd and even counting relays, 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS each of said counting relays preceding the last Number Name Date including contacts operable therewith for con- 1,972,941 Lewis Sept. 11, 1934 necting the next succeeding relay to its corre- 2,088,793 Judge Aug. 3, 1937 sponcling operate wire, and each of said relays 2,241,156 Powell May 6, 1941 including contacts operable therewith for con- 10 2,314,187 Abbott Mar. 16, 1943 necting it to its corresponding hold wire.

RICHARD P. BOYER, JR. JOHN I. BELLAMY. 

